Center strap for tennis nets



April 21, 1925.

S. HARDY CENTER STRAP FOR TENNIS NETS Filed July l0, 1922 PaieniedApr.2i, 1925.

"i UNITED "STATE- S PATENT FFICE.

siiivroar. HARDY, OF HORORENNW JERsRY, AssreNoRiro a. e. srALnrNe aBROS., or

NRW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY. v

CENTER STRAP FOR TENNIS NETS.

Application iled July 1Q, 1922. Serial No. 574,020.

construction, effective in operation, con-` venient for installationandadjustment, and durable. `The improved construction includes a hook atthe lower end of the center strap which is swiveled in such manner as topermit the strap to revolve about the axis of the shank withouttwisting. Ithas been found in known constructions that the anchorage forcenter straps has been unsatisfactory inithat it has not provided forconvenient installation and has not been of sucli character as to adaptitself to twisting of the strap. The improved hook employed in i theanchorage, in the present case, includes,

in the preferred forni, a snaflie which facilitates attachment anddetachment from the anchor and positively holds the strap againstaccidental disengagement. Another feature of the invention is theassociation `with a hook of the character described of a center strapwhich comprises an endless band ad justable through a buckle andextendingA `through a slot in the base of the hook. Free slidingmovement of the strap in this base andfree adaptationof the strap to thenet without twisting, by virtue of the swiveled shank of the retaininghook increases the life of the center strap materially since it protectsit againstfundue strainsand stresses and insures its constant change ofposition with respect to the top of the net where the greatest wear isordinarilyencountered.

rlhe preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detailwith refer ence to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view' in elevation of a section` of a tennis net equippedwith the iinproved. strap.

Figure 2 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale of a portion of thecenter strap and its retaining hook.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation` ofthe strap shown in Figure 2. v

The lawn tennis net a may be secured at its side edges by any suitablemeans and retained in placeadjacent to its mid-section by the improvedcenter strap I). This center strap comprises an endless strip of fabricsuch as canvas, one end of which carries a suitable buckle o adapted tobe engaged with the free end of the strap whereby the length thereof maybe adjusted conveniently'. A fingerpiece c on the buckle o` facilitatesthis' adjustment in accordance with usual practice where buckles or theequivalent are employed. The strap b passes through a slotted base cl inwhich is swiveled a vertical shank e for a hook e which may be closed bya spring oressed snaftle c2. It will be observed that the axis of theshank c is vertical and substantially coincident with the median line ofthe vertical strap o when in position. The hook cmay be engaged with anysuitable anchor illustrated for convenience as a horizontal pin fsupported in an anchor g. TheI invention is not concerned with thecharacter of the anchor. i

From the description it will be evident that the strap Z) being formedas an endless loop passing through the slotted base d is free to movelongitudinally therein and so change its bearing section on the upperedge of the tennis net c. This is important inasmuch as `such straps aresubject to hardest wear at this point. Further, the buckle c affords amost ready means of adjusting the effective length of the loop formed bythe strap Z) so that the latter may under chang ing conditions ofweather which might cause stretching or shrinking, always be pulledsoasto hold the upper edge of the tennis net at the regulation distancefrom the surface of the ground. Again, the swiveledshank c i `permitstwisting of the strap to` any degree necessary to insure readyconformation to distortion in the net. .The result is that the strapisnot subjected to undue stresses or strains such `as might be broughtabout by twisting.` The snaffle e2 affords a positive closure for thehook c so that it maybe positively engaged with the anchor and all` ofthe parts held in desired relation against accidental disengagement.

'Vhat I claim is:

In combination with thefoenteistiap for a tennis net i'foi'ined as anendless band, a buckle to secure the 'free ends of the-bands adjustablytogether, ahool having a slotted base through Which the .strap .isloosely passed, a vertical Ashank 'for the' hook swiveled in the basewith its axis substantially in 10 This .specification signed this 5 datvolj 1 July A. D. 1922.

SAMUEL IARDY.

